Canada says goodbye to a fallen soldier

TRIBUTE

Gary Yokoyama,The Hamilton Spectator

A passerby is overcome with grief visiting the flags and floral tributes at the Cirillo home on Bell Avenue in Hamilton. Cpl. Nathan Cirillo was shot and killed at Canada's National War Memorial in Ottawa while standing watch. His funeral is Tuesday in Hamilton.

REMEBERING A HERO

Peter Power,The Canadian Press

A child traces the name of Nathan Cirillo on a poster at a small candlelight vigil that was held in Corktown Park, the neighbourhood where Cirillo lived, in Hamilton

HAMILTON SOLDIER

INSTAGRAM

Nathan Cirillo and his dog

ARMOURY

Gary Yokoyama,The Hamilton Spectator

Hamilton, October 26, 2014 - A steady stream of citizens at John Weir Foote Armoury paying tribute to Cpl.Cirillo. As many people reading flag tributes as well as signing. (FILE NO. _GMY3947) PHOTO BY: Gary Yokoyama, The Hamilton Spectator. FOR STORY BY:

MEMORIAL

Gary Yokoyama,The Hamilton Spectator

Hamilton, Ont., Canada, October 26, 2014 -- A steady stream of citizens at John Weir Foote Armoury paying tribute to Cpl.Cirillo over the past weekend. Mia Bard of Mississauga Ont., arrives at the memorial with flowers.

REMEBERING A HERO

Cathie Coward,The Hamilton Spectator

Members of the public continue to pay their respects to Cpl Nathan Cirillo with messages and flowers at the John Weir Foote Armouries Thursday afternoon.

REMEBERING A HERO

Andrew Burton,Getty Images

The flag atop the Canadian Parliament building is flown at half-staff one day after Cpl. Nathan Cirillo of the Canadian Army Reserves was killed while standing guard in front of the National War Memorial

REMEBERING A HERO

Tara Walton,Torstar News Service

Gail Green of Hamilton writes a message to Corporal Nathan Cirillo Sunday as mourners gather at a memorial outside of the armoury on James Street North in Hamilton

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On James Street North, the distinct wailing of bagpipes emanated from the Armouries as units rehearsed their drills Sunday afternoon and inspected their kits ahead of the funeral Tuesday for Corporal Nathan Cirillo.

Everything has to be "seamless," said Captain Mike Wonnacott, of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada.

"Literally every officer we have available to us is tasked with something," he said, adding that those at the command level were busy working out the logistics with police and government officials.

It felt like that elsewhere in the city, too, as scores of Hamiltonians tackled preparations for the final farewell.

Just down from the Armouries, the doors of Christ's Church Cathedral remained wide open after mass Sunday as workers concocted a plan to squeeze in close to 200 extra chairs to accommodate everyone invited for the service.

And while it will be business as usual there Monday, Reverend Bill Mous said the church will be cleaned until it shines.

"We're all kind of pitching in to make sure the Cathedral will be at its best to honour Cpl. Cirillo and his service and his life."

The 24-year-old corporal died last Wednesday after being shot by a Canadian-born jihadist while on sentry duty at the National War Memorial in Ottawa.

Even family of Cirillo's killer are grieving. In a letter to the National Post, Susan Bibeau said her thoughts are foremost with the Cirillo family. Questioning whether there was anything she could say or do, she said "I don't know what is appropriate in these circumstances."

She wrote the letter, she says, not to justify or explain her son's actions but to provide context.

Cirillo enlisted in the Canadian Army primary reserve with the Argylls in 2006, before he graduated high school.

Police cruisers still sat guarding his family's home in the city's east end Sunday morning. They said they'll be there until Tuesday evening, to allow the family to grieve in peace.

Two men in military fatigues stopped by the house shortly after 10 a.m.

Many others stopped to take in the growing collection of wreaths, flags and flowers lining the front lawn of the family's east end bungalow.

With an entire country in mourning, the service is expected to resemble a police funeral, unprecedented in Hamilton's military history.

Ceremonial contingents from other regiments as well as police agencies are expected to attend, Wonnacott said.

There will be hundreds in uniform on parade.

The procession will begin Tuesday at the Argyll Commemorative Pavilion in Bayfront Park at 11 a.m.

Military units and uniformed service members will form there and follow the procession, which will head south along Bay Street North, then east on York Boulevard and finally north on James Street North to the cathedral, just north of the Armouries.

Geordie Elms, senior adviser on military heritage for Mayor Bob Bratina, could not yet say how many people they expect to attend or exactly who might be there.

"The numbers are growing … I know we're going to hear a lot more on Monday," he said, adding that it is not unusual for government and military high-ups to keep their itineraries private until the last minute.

Elms said they do expect a "huge military group in attention" both from across Canada and also outside. And while they are factoring these attendees into their plans, he stressed that Cirillo's family is their main priority.

"At the end of the day, the priority is his family, his regimental comrades — not necessarily the higher ranks — and his regimental family … others will certainly be welcome but it's a sad occasion and a funeral and we ask people to please be patient," Elms said.

The funeral service there will be private, with church seating restricted to guests invited by the family. Members of the public looking to pay their respects can do so at a satellite service at First Ontario Place (101 York Blvd.), where the church service will be broadcast live.

Following the service, military units and uniformed service members are asked to queue up on the south side of York to pay final respects as the procession passes en route to a private internment.

All streets, from Queen to John and from Strachan to York Boulevard/Wilson Street, will be closed to traffic from approximately 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. In addition, York will be closed between Dundurn and John.

Police acknowledge that citizens who work or live in the area as well as organizations who utilize parking within the area will be inconvenienced by the closures. They are advised to seek alternate arrangements.

People attending the funeral, too, are strongly encouraged to use public transit.

A public visitation will be held at the Markey-Dermody Funeral Home (1774 King St. E.) Monday from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m.

A private funeral service will be held Tuesday at noon at Christ's Church Cathedral (252 James St. N.). For members of the public, a satellite service will be held at First Ontario Place (101 York Blvd).

Those without an invitation to the funeral are instructed to go to First Ontario Place. No bags or knapsacks will be permitted inside for the ceremony.

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(1) Comments

By Mike|OCTOBER 27, 2014 05:53 PM

Corporal Nathan Cirillo Memorial Parkway (formerly the Red Hill). This should be the first order of business for the council being elected today. RIP